Laura Tuneski

EDCI 5065
June 28, 2009
T2P – Week 4

If… students form cliques as a result of “youth pop culture”

Then... they will become distracted from their school work
Because… of the peer pressures to conform, which contribute to
heightened levels of social anxiety and stress.
A specific application to my teaching… In my
English classes I will incorporate aspects of youth pop culture that are
revlavent to the lives of my students as recommended by Vygotsky. For
example, I will be teaching the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. The
teenage characters experience daily bullying and violence, which
impacts their lives. I will have my students identify these problems and
write a diary from one of the character’s point of view. Additionally,
students will be asked to draw on their own experiences as teenagers
to provide a peaceful resolution to the problem they identify. The
activity would help students to understand and communicate the
human need for belongingness and love. Additionally, by putting the
student in the role of problem-solver, they will fulfill cognitive needs,
self-actualization, and transcendence. These are the top three higher-
level needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which are important to the
student’s success, motivation, and happiness.

If… students are having a difficult time fitting in and expressing

themselves
Then… they run the risk of resorting to self-injury
Because… self-injuring is a way for people to express themselves
letting go of bad feelings, to get the attention they crave, and to feel
relief from the pain that plagues their lives.
A specific application to my teaching… I desire my
classroom to be a safe haven for students to learn and express
themselves verbally, artistically, scriptively, or in any other means with
is constructive. According to Erikson, students aged 6 to 12 are in a
stage he calls the “school-aged child”. This stage is characterized by
industry vs. inferiority. Students face serious problems in terms of
competence and self-esteem, which could result in self-injury if
students feel incompetent and depressed. It is my hope that students
will openly communicate in my class. Additionally, it will allow them to
learn, create, and accomplish skills gaining new knowledge. This will
contribute positively to their self-esteem and competence, which
Erikson states is important in this developmental stage.

If… students struggle to fit in with their friends, manage family

relationships, and become involved in intimate relationships
Then… they will experience vast changes and transitions in their
personal development
Because… these relationships impose specific values, morals, and
social expectations which influences student identity
A specific application to my teaching… Vygotsky
believes that family, culture, and communities supported student
development. Student backgrounds and knowledge is a direct result of
these institutions and influences. Similarly, according to Erikson,
students aged 12 to 18 are in a stage called the “adolescent”.
Students struggle with identity vs. identity fusion. They are trying to
discover their identity while negotiating and struggling with social
interactions and finding their place in society and the world. It is in this
stage that student develop a sense of morality. It is common that
student lives and identities are shaped and influenced by the people
they interact with. I hope to promote positive social interactions in my
English classes. As a class we will analyze the relationships in the
novels we read. We will identify how culture, socio-economic factors,
race, and gender all combine to affect the characters we are looking
at. By recognizing and discussing this it is my expectation that
students will be more sensitive to these issues and take them into
consideration when making important life decisions.

If… teachers use differentiated instruction in their classrooms

Then… they will become more effective teachers
Because… they can teach to the learning styles of their students
A specific application to my teaching… It is
important for me to acknowledge that my students all have varied and
diverse learning styles. By incorporating differentiated instruction into
my lessons, I will be able to address the vast learning needs of all of
my students. As Piaget suggested, students are constantly
constructing and reconstructing knowledge. Also it is he states that it is
important for teachers to be aware of student’s stage of development
to teach effectively. By presenting material in different ways, I will
challenge my students to view things and experience them in a variety
of ways.